The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-08-05

'Dulutu property III NPtul anu Ine iruns-
vaal, estimated value ue....................e ee,50o
This house. e......................... 90
Stock-wagous, etc. say. ...... ........... 300
HAce norseS' ..s...............s. ....s'...s..
have left that blank
"Put them at es00," said Ernest, after
thinking. "You know l won $500 with Lady
Mary on the Cape Town plate last weeks
Jeremy went on:
Race horses md winnings ngs.............ff.30 800 |
Sundries-cash, balance, ,etc............... 100
Total. otal.................................e5,e G., 20
Now of this we have actually saved and in
vested about f2,5Oo, the rest we have made
or It has accumulated. Now, ask you,
where could we have done better than that
as things got So don't talk to me about
wasting my time"
"Bravo, jeremy My uncle was right;
after all, you ought to have been lawyer;
you are first class at figures. 1 congratulate
you on your management OF the estates"
my system is simple,' answered Jeremy.
"Whenever there is any money to spare buy
something with it, then you are not likely to
spend 1t. Then, when l have things enough
wagons, oxen horses, what not-I sell them
and buy some land that can't run away. IL
you only do that sort of thing long enough
you will grow rich at last"
"Sweetly simple certainly. Well sc 600
will go long way toward stocking farm or
something in South America, on wherever we
make up our minds to go, and then l don't
think that we need draw on my uncle any
more. 1t is hardly fair to drain him so. Old
Aston will come with us, think, and will
put in another $4,000. He told me some time
ago that he was getting tired of south At
rica, with its Beers and blacks, in his old age,
and had a fancy to make a start in some
9TH \
What hotel is he staying at in Maritzburgi
the Royal, isn't iti And then vote we clear
in the spring"
fright you are, my hearty"
At that moment their conversation was in.
terrupted by the arrival OF Kaifer messen-
ger with a telegram addressed to Ernest.
He opened it and read it. "Hullo,n he said
''here is something better than Mexico; lis
ten:
"'Alston Peter Maritzburg to Kershaw,
Pretoria: High commissioner has declared
war against Cetawayo. Local cavalry ur-
gently required for service in Zuluand
Have offered to raise small corps of about
seventy mounted men. Offer has been ac-
cepted. win you accept post of second in
commandl-you would hold the queens
commission. If so, set about picking suitable
rc,ruius terms, 10 shillings day, all found.
Am coming up to Pretoria by this post cart.
Ask Jones if he will accept sergeant major
ship'n
"Hurrahl" sung out Ernest, with flashing
eyes. Here is some real service at last OF
course you will accept"
"Of course" said Jeremy quietly; but
| don't indulge in rejoicings yet; this is going
| to be big business, unless am mistaken"
Ernest and Jeremy did not let the grass
| grow under their feet They guessed that
| thapa would ha 81 Jaa1 nf
for various corps, and SO set to work at once
to secure the best men. The stamp of man
| they aimed at getting was the colonial born
| Englishman, both because such men have
| more self respect, independence of character
and "gumption" than the ordinary drifting
sediment from the fields and seaports, and
| also because they were practically ready
made soldiers. They could ride as well as
they could walk, they were splendid rifle
shots, and they had, too from childhood been
trained in the art of travelling without bag
gage, and very rapidly. Ernest did not find
much difficulty in the task Mr.. Aston was
well known, and had seen great deal of SER
vice as young man in the Basutu wars, and
stories were still told Of his nerve and pluck
He was known, too, to be a wary man, not
rash or over confident, but of determined
mind; and, what is more, to possess q perfect
knowledge of Zulu warfare and tactics. This
went long way with intending recruits, for
the first thing would be colonial volunteer
inquiries into is the character of his officers
He will not trust his life to men in whom he
puts no reliance. He is willing to lose it in
the way of duty, but he has great objection
to ohaving it blundered away. Indeed, in many
south African volunteer corps it is funda-
| mental principle that the officers should be
elected by the men themselves. Once elected,
| hpyavpr thaU ha dapnxa1 h,,
competent authority.
Ernest, too, was by this time well known in
the Transvaal, and universally believed in.
| Mr. Aston could not have chosen a better
lieutenant. He was known to have pluck
and dash, and TO be ready witted in emer-
gency; but it was not that only which made
him acceptable TO the individuals whose con-
tnued existence would very possibly depend
upon his courage and discretion. Indeed, il
would be difficult to say what it was; but
there are some men who are by nature
born leaders of their fellows, and who inspire
confidence magnetically. Ernest had this
great gift. At first sight he was much like
any other young man. rather careless looking
than otherwise in appearance, giving the OBJ
server the impression that he was thinking OF
something else; but old hands at native war
fare, looking into his dark eyes, saw some
| thing there which told them that this Young
fellow, boy as he was, comparatively speak
ing, would not show himself wanting in til,
moment of emergency, either in courage OF
discretion. Jeremy's nomination, too, a!
sergeant major, very important post il
such corps, was popular enough, Peopl,
had not forgotten his victory over the Boel
giant, and besides, a sergeant major will
such physique would have been credit t
any corps
All these things helped to make recruitin,
an easy task, and when Aston and his sol
Roger, weary and bruised stepped out of tn
Natal post cart four days later, it was to b
met by Ernest and Jeremy with the in
telligence that his telegram had been received
the appointments accepted, and thirty llv
men Professionally enrolled, subject to his aI
prevail
"My word, young gentlemen" he said
highly pleased; you are ieutenants wort
| haViuQn